Log-handling device.



W. 0. FARNUM.

LOG HANDLING DEVIGE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 25. 1912.

1,041,763. Patented 0ct.22,1912.

4 SEEETSSHEET 1.

REL

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COHWASHINOTON' D. C.

W. U. FARNUM.

LOG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION 11.31) 11111.25. 1912.

1,041,763. Patented 001:.22, 1912.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m um Y a: I "IMMUN 23 l I D WLJWM W. 0. PARNUM. LOG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1912. 1,041,763. Patented 0011.22, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 4a ly i'fizsfiea: Indefinmiarizm I or srarns rannr oVIILLIAM C. FARNUM, OF FITCHIBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF'IO HENRY E. GOWDREY AND CHARLES F. COWDREY, BOTH 0F FITCHBURG,

MASSACHUSETTS.

LOG-HANDLING DEVICE.

Patented Oct. 22,1912.

Application filed January 25, 1912. Serial No. 673,426.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM C. FARNUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Log-Handling Devices, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to devices forhandling logs, and more particularly to devices for handling logs withrelation to means for sawing the logs transversely into sections. orrelatively short lengths.

here a large number of wooden articles of the same character, such ashandles or similar devices, are to be produced in a turning machine,economy of operations demands that the blanks from which they are turnedshall be adapted for treatment by the same turning machine in rapidsuccession without the necessity for readjustment of the turningcenters. This requires that the blanks shall be of uniform length. Ifsome are longer than others, the longer ones require additionaltreatment to reduce them to the same size, and such additional treatmentresults not alone in additional labor and expense, but loss of material.

With these facts in view, the aims and purposes of the present inventionwill best be made clear from the following description and accompanyingdrawings of one form of means for putting the invention into.

practical effect, it being understood that the details may be varied andmodified within the true scope of the invention which is properly setforth by the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodyingfeatures of the present invention, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is atransverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, the parts being representedon a larger scale; Fig, 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of therear truck, some of the parts being shown broken away; Fig. 3 is adetail of the gage. Fig. 4 is an end view of r the log carriage, lookingin the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1., the parts being on a largescale; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4, showing indetail one form of jack clamp.

The log carriage, which as a whole may be designated by A, Fig. 1, maybe of the usual or well known form, and comprise the longitudinaltopand. bottom rails 1 and 2 suitably tied together by the transversebeams 3 and 4, Fig. 4, and separated vertically by the uprights 5, 5.The log carriage A, as usual, is mounted upon rolling supports 6, 6preferably arranged at each end of and at intermediate points in thelength of the carria-ge, if desired. Only the rolling supports 6, 6 atone end of the carriage are shown, it being understood that the othersupports may be of like character. The rolling supports 6, 6 arepreferably sustained in brackets 7, 7 appropriately secured to thecarriage, and are provided with grooves for engaging the transversetracks 8, as indi cated in Figs, 1 and 4, the construction being suchthat the log carriage, as a whole, may be moved transversely to receivea log from some stationary support at one side of the carriage, andthen, when the log has been properly adjusted on the carriage, presentthe log to the saw B in order to cut the log into sections transverselyof desired lengths.

In these respects, the log carriage A and the saw B may be of anyappropriate or desired character, and being well known in the art needno further description.

In devices of this general character as heretofore used, the log, whichwas to be sawed into sections by transverse cuts of the saw, has beensupported in such manner that in order to getthe planes of transversecuts parallel, the log had to be slabbed off or out longitudinally inone or more planes to form a supporting or gaging surface along thelength of the log, with consequent loss of material and increased cost.With this and other facts in mind, the present invention aims, amongother objects, to provide means whereby, regardless of the shape andcontour of the log, the sect-ions formed by the saws shall all be out inplanes truly parallel, and the entire log be thus cut into small lengthssuitable for the formation of blanks of uniform lengths by dividing thesections in a longitudinal direction. Each section thus cut from the logwill furnish a number of blanks, either round, square, or other shape,and all of such blanks whether from the same or different section willbe of the same length adapted to the centers of the same turningmachine, Without readjustment of the turning centers.

The top rails 1, 1 of the log carriage A are preferably formed of angleiron, as indicated by Figs. 2 and 3, which form appropriate tracksextending longitudinally of thecarriage for the front and rear trucks Cand D respectively, each of which may be provided with rollers 9 toengage said tracks, the constructions being such that said trucks may bemoved readily in a direction longitudinally of the log carriage A, aswill hereinafter more fully appear.

The front truck C preferably comprises a frame, Figs. 1 and 2, supportedby a shaft or axle 10 on which the rollers 9 are mounted, said framehaving side portions 11 and 12 rising to the full height of the truckand a central. depressed portion 13. Pivotally mounted at one side ofthe truck is a skid 14, Fig. 2, the pivotal point 15 whereof may beconveniently formed by a suitable bolt passed through the skid andsecured to a side extension or bracket 16, the construction being suchthat when the skid 14 is turned into position to receive a log as thelatter is moved onto the truck, its upper surface forms a substantialcontinuation of the upper surface of the side portions 11 and 12 of thetruck.

To sustain the skid in its log receiving position, a suitable catchmaybe provided, such, for instance, as the catch 17 pivoted to the truckat 18 and normally under the influence of a spring 19, Fig. 2; theconstruction being such that when the skid is turned to the dotted lineposition, Fig. 2, which may be known as its log receiving position, itsend portion will ride over the catch 17, force it back in opposition tothe spring 19, until, when the skid finally reaches its log receivingposition, the spring 19 will at once move the catch beneath the end ofthe skid and support said end, as will be understood. A pin 20 on theside of the catch limits movement of the catch under the action of thespring 19, and is adapted to contact with a flange 21 for this purpose.There are preferably two flanges 21 projecting from the frame to providevertical guides for the end of the skid as it rises to position and tothereafter prevent side distort-ional movement of the skid, as will beclearly understood. A pin 14 may sustain the free end of the skid whenit is lowered.

The rear truck D is somewhat differently formed, and preferablycomprises side frames each formed of a horizontally extending portion22, Fig. l, and inclined portions 23 preferably tied togethertransversely by a suitable tie bolt 24, Figs. 1 and 3, and the axle 25.The front portion of the rear truck D, Fig. 3, is provided with suitableside bearings 26 for the roller supports 9, and such bearings areconnected by a centrally depressed frame 27 which may be substantiallythe same as described for the front truck C.

The skid 28 of the rear truck is pivotally mounted at 29 to one of theside frames of the truck and preferably between the front and rear pairsof rollers 9, 9, as indicated in Fig. 3, the construction being suchthat when the weight of the log is received upon the skid 28 there willbe no tendency for the rear truck to rise at either end. be free end ofthe skid 28 is received between the guide flanges 30 between which itmay move as described for the skid 14 of the front truck, a similarspring catch 31 serving to hold the skid 28 in its log receivingposition.

As heretofore announced, the front and rear trucks C and D are movablelongitudinally on the log carriage A, and are connected by the truckconnecting slide rods 32, 32, one at each side of the trucks. The sliderods are secured to depending ears 33, Fig. 2, extending from the frameof the front truck, and are held thereto by suitable means, as, forinstance, the set screws 34. These rods extend through lugs 35projecting from the rear truck D, and, if desired, may be held theretoby set screws 36, though such set screws are not essential, the construction being such that the front and rear trucks may be movedrelatively into closer or more remote relation for purposes that willpresently appear.

Secured rigidly to the front end, the left, Fig. 1, of the log carriageis a iack frame 87, such frame being conveniently held to the logcarriage by the brackets 38 and 39, Fig. 4. This jack frame 37, like theframe of the front truck has a depressed central portion 40, but unlikethe truck frame, it has no log receiving skid. I

Both the front and rear trucks, as well also as the jack frame 37, areprovided with a log controlling and holding jack, those of the front andrear truck frames serving to hold and support the log during the entireseries of transverse cuts made by the saw, and that of the jack frame onthe log carriage in connection with that on the rear truck serving tohold the log in its original alinement while the front truck is moved toa new position or toward the rear truck as'made necessary by thegradually diminishing length of the log. As these jacks may all be ofthe same general character, a description of one will be sufiicient forall, reference being had to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Each of the jacks comprises two diverging arms or members 41 and 42rigidly con- 1 nected and forming a receiving seat between them for alog E. Each jack is mounted on. a shifting pivot so that it not only maybe raised and lowered to engage and disengage .a log but may also bemoved transversely of its support to properly position and hold the logas desired. Likewise each ack has a locking device shiftable with it, sothat when adjusted transversely, the locking device may be effective tohold the jack in log supporting position. As one means to this end, eachof the trucks and the jack frame 37 is provided with a transverselyextending slot 43 adapted to receive loosely and support the pivot 44 ofthe jack, a handle 45 serving to properly manipulate the jack as willpresently appear.

Extending from each jack is a slotted locking member 46 curved on thearc of a circle the center of which is the pivot 44. Each of the truckframes and the jack frame 37 are provided with a slot 47 preferablyparallel with the slot 43 in which moves the pivot 44 of the jack, andpassing through the slot-ted locking member 46 and the slot 47 is alocking device, one convenient forin of which is best indicated in Fig.5.

As shown the locking device comprises a bolt 48 having a head 49provided with a cut away portion 50 to engage the side walls of the slot47 to thereby prevent rotative movement of the bolt. The bolt 48 passesthrough the slot 47 and the slotted locking member 46 at the side ofwhich is a washer 51 adapted to be engaged by bearing portions 52secured to an operating handle 53 extending to the side of thelog'carriage. At its inner end the bolt is provided with a pin 54, Fig.5, adapted to ride on the cam face 55 of the handle 53 said pin beingretained in place by a set screw 56 and the construction being such thatupon movement of the handle downward or in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 4, the cam surface 55 will draw the parts together and efiectuallylock the jack in adjusted position, whereas, movement of the handle inthe opposite direction will serve to loosen the parts and permit thejack to be freely turned about its pivot 44 as a center and to movetransversely of its support, the locking device during such trans versemovement traveling with the jack.

In order to more effectually support the pivot 44 of the jack, thesupporting frame is preferably provided with the laterally extendingbracket portions 16, one of which may be disposed one each side of thejack, as indicated by Fig. 3, so that the pivot 44 may extend throughthe jack and have support at either side thereof, as shown. It will benoted that the function of the jack which is mounted on the log carriageor jack frame is to temporarily support and maintain the log in itsoriginal positionas determined by the jacks of the two trucks, when thejack on the front truck is lowered to permit the said truck to be movedtoward the rear truck when the length of the log has been reduced to anextent to require such readjustment of the front truck.

That the sections cut from the log by the saws may be of uniform lengtha suitable gage may be employed, one form of which is shown by Fig. 3wherein a frame 60 carries a gage plate 61 having a portion 62projecting transversely to the path of movement of the log as it iscarried longitudinally of the log carriage by the trucks and theirjacks. The gage plate 61 is preferably provided with elongated slots 63,63, through which pass the clamp screws 64 having suitable washers 65resting on the top of the gage plate, the construction being such thatthe gage plate and consequently the gage 62 may be adjusted toward andfrom the saw 13 in accordance with the length of sections to be cut andthen clamped in position. When a section is to be cut, the trucks aremoved longitudinally of the log carriage until the end of the log Eengages the gage 62, whereupon the log carriage is moved transversely topresent the log to the saw. Since the gage remains fixed it will beclearthat the sections cut from the log will be of the same length, andsince the jack supports as described maintain the aXial alinement of thelog the same throughout the series of cuts, it follows that the blanksformed from said log section will be of uniform character as to lengthand end portions.

From the construction described, it will be noted that when a log is tobe moved onto the trucks, the skids are raised to present asubstantially horizontal surface on which the log may be received, thejacks at such time being unlocked and depressed. When the log has beenproperly located on the truck skids, the jacks are moved transversely ofthe trucks if necessary to bring their embracing arms into positionbeneath the log, whereupon the jacks are raised into log supportingposition and locked, the axis of the log at such times beingsubstantially at right angles to the plane of movement of the saw. Sincethe log may be more or less bent or turned from a straight line, it willbe noted that notwithstanding this fact the embracing arms of the jackswill maintain the log in fixed position. The skids are then lowered, thelog being wholly supported by the jacks. The trucks are then movedlongitudinally of the carriage the desired length of the section to becut transversely, which may be determined by a suitable gage, and thelog carriage moved to present the log to the action of the saw. Sincethe log is sustained wholly by the jacks it will be apparent that theplanes of saw cut for all the sections will be parallel. When a numberof sections have been thus cut, it becomes necessary to move the fronttruck to a new position nearer the rear truck, but it is equallydesirable that the axis of the log as originallyfixed be maintained. Tothis end the jack on the log carriage is raised and locked in logsupporting position, whereupon the jack on the front truck may belowered and the front truck be moved toward the rear truck withoutdisturbing the original alinement of the log. The jack on the fronttruck may then be raised to its log supporting position and locked, andthe jack on the log carriage will then be lowered to permit the trucksto move the log longitudinally of the carriage for a fresh cut.

' Since the original alinement of the log has not been changed, itfollows, that the various planes of saw cut will remain parallel and byproperly gaging the lengths of sections cut by the usual gaging devices,not necessary to describe, it will be noted that the entire log may besawed into sections of uniform length and that the planes of theirrespective ends will be parallel, so that when the sections are dividedinto blanks by cutting them longitudinally all of the blanks will be ofuniform length ready for engagement by the centers of the turningmachine without further adjustment.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the details describedwithin the true scope of the invention as pointed out by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a logcarriage mounted for movement transversely and provided withlongitudinal tracks, a front truck and a rear truck mounted forlongitudinal movement on said carriage, and each provided with apivotally mounted jack having log engaging and supporting portions, andmeans for locking the acks in log supporting positions when adjusted ontheir pivotal mounting.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a logcarriage mounted for transverse movement, a saw for operatingtransversely of a log supported on said carriage, a front truck and arear truck each having a skid to receive and support a log, a jackmounted on each of said trucks and having log engaging and supportingportions, means for raising said acks into log supporting positions,means for locking the jacks in said positions, and means permitting theskids to be moved from contact with the log that the latter may bewholly supported by said jacks as it is presented to the saw for cuttinginto sections transversely.

3. In a device of the character described, a saw, a log carriage movabletransversely of the saw, a front truck movable longitudinally of thecarriage and provided with a jack having flaring side members to engageand support a log, a rear truck also longitudinally movable on thecarriage, and a jack frame mounted on the carriage at the end adjacentto the saw and having a jack,

said jacks being mounted on the front truck and jack frame respectivelyto permit the latter to be moved into supporting relation to the log andthe jack on the truck to be moved from such supporting relation that thefront truck may be moved longitudinally of the log frame to place itsjack in a new supporting position while maintaining the log in itsoriginal undisturbed axial alinement with respect to the saw.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a saw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a front truck and a reartruck movable longitudinally of said carriage and adapted to sup portand present different longitudinal portions of a log to the action ofthe saw, said front truck being provided with a log supporting jackmovable to and from supporting position, and means on the log carriagemovable into position to support the end portion of the log in itsoriginal axial relation with the saw when the jack on the front truck ismoved out of supporting position to permit the said truck to move intonew supporting relation longitudinally of the log.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a saw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a fronttruck and a reartruck for supporting a log as it is cut transversely into sections, saidfront truck being provided with a jack hav ing flaring side portions forengaging and supporting a log, said jack being pivotally mounted formovement into and out of log supporting position, and means permittingsaid jack to be moved transversely of the truck.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a saw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a front truck and a reartruck movable longitudinally of said carriage and each provided with alog receiving skid pivotally mounted at one side of its truck, a jack oneach truck having log receiving arms to embrace a portion of said logand mounted for pivotal and transverse movement, means for locking thejacks in log supporting position, and means permitting the skids to moveabout their pivotal mounting out of contact with the log that the lattermay be wholly supported by said jacks.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a saw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a front truck and a reartruck movable longitudinally of said carriage and each provided with alog receiving skid pivotally mounted at one side of its truck, a jack oneach truck having log receiving arms to embrace a portion of said logand mounted for pivotal and transverse movement, means for locking thejacks in log supporting position, means permitting the skids to moveabout their pivotal mounting out of contact with the log that the lattermay be wholly supported by said jacks, and means at the front end of thecarriage to hold the log tempo rarily while the jack on the front truckis disengaged from the log to permit the said truck to be moved relativeto the rear truck into a new log supporting position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of asaw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a log supporting truckmovable longitudinally of the log carriage, a jack having a transverselyshiftable pivotal mounting on said truck, and a locking device alsoshifting transversely with the jack to maintain the jack inlog'supporting position in any of its trans verse adjustments. 7 i 9. Ina device of the character described, the combination of a saw, a logcarriage movable transversely of the saw, a log supporting truck movablelongitudinally of the log carriage, a jack having a transverselyshiftable pivotal mounting on said truck, a locking device also shiftingtransversely with the jack to maintain the jack in log supportingposition in any of its transverse adjustments, said truck being providedwith a skid to support the log as it is moved onto said truck, and meanspermitting the skid to be moved from log supporting position that thelog may be supported and held by the jack when the latter is locked inlog supporting position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a saw, alog carriage movable transversely of the saw, a front truck and a reartruck movable longitudinally of the log carriage to present differentlongitudinal portions of the log for treatment by the saw, a jack on thefront truck having portions to embrace a portion of and to support thelog, means for locking the jack in log supporting position, and meansmounted on the log carriage and movable into log supporting position totemporarily support the front end of the log when the jack on the fronttruck is unlocked and moved from log supporting position to permit thefront truck to be moved relative to the rear truck, said means beingmovable from log supporting position that the log may be movedlongitudinally.

I11 testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. FARNUM.

Witnesses:

ELLIOT S. EMERSON, WM. B. RICHARDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of iatents, Washington, D. G.

